I'll start this review by saying that due to events in Veronica Speedwell #7, I have been stressed for the better part of a year about the status of Stoker and Veronica's relationship. I needn't have feared. As always, Deanna Raybourn delivered and this book was everything I wanted it to be and more. By page 2, I was cackling at Veronica and Stoker's antics, and by the end of the book my broken heart had healed.

A Sinister Revenge takes our dynamic duo (+ Tiberius) to the Templeton-Vane estate, which is apparently known for its abundance of dinosaur fossils and an unsolved murder! Like all the books in this series there was plenty of sleuthing, banter, and romance. Excelsior!

Thank you to Berkley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Things got a tad dicey at the end of the last book with its shocking revelations about Veronica’s past so I was both eager and wary to pick up A Sinister Revenge to see whether Veronica can mend matters with Stoker and together keep Tiberius from being murdered by someone set on revenge for an incident in his past. The Veronica Speedwell series has been an engaging blend of Victorian era mystery, adventure, and a tantalizing romance between two powerful, complex personalities. Well written with witty flair and flavored with manners and dialogue of the period, each book showcases an aspect of the Victorian world and this time is fossil hunting on England’s south coast that features prominently.



A Sinister Revenge is the eighth Veronica Speedwell adventure and, because of the way the personal story for Veronica, Stoker, and all the regular characters is ongoing, these really should be read in order.



Veronica has deep-seated issues that reared their ugly head once again when she thought she’d conquered them. She let Stoker leave and never corrected his assumption that she was married. Who knows how long she would have fiddle-faddled and waited for him to give in first, but Tiberius discovers something so disturbing that he needs Stoker.



And, so, they are reunited once again to uncover answers about the death that happened in Tiberius’ younger years and is at the heart of the present situation. In good murder mystery plot fashion, Tiberius brings all the principle parties back to the scene of the death, the Templeton-Vane family estate, and siccs Veronica and Stoker with their detecting ability on his guests.

Meanwhile, Stoker remains obdurate even when she tells him she’s not married. He makes his stance crystal clear. Trust him and go all in or leave him be. Veronica gets her hackles up over this and deflects by making them rivals in murder investigation. But, drat the man, he isn’t going to give in on this one, is he?



So, I went into this one and hoped it wouldn’t stall out in the quagmire of Veronica’s issues. Thankfully, it didn’t. Oh, she did start out that way, but I didn’t account for Stoker. He’s her match for a reason. She really does love him and has to learn that love is stronger than fear. I enjoyed seeing them working on the case from different angles and had a good time when they got up to shenanigans and tried to outwit each other while driving to the truth.

The solution to the mystery was an easy one for me. Though, I landed on the ‘who, how, and why’ by chance rather than by design very early on. Still, I had a good time seeing Veronica and Stoker get there and go through a harrowing final adventure before the end.



Deanna Raybourn’s talented writing made this a fast, sparkling read that left me utterly satisfied and lusting for more of the series. While there is a historical mystery in each book, I would nudge these toward romantic suspense fans who enjoy a historical setting since the focus is on Veronica, herself, and her relationship with Stoker a strong secondary plot.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This was a fun who-dunnit that was somewhat reminiscent of modern day mysteries. A group of friends get together to honor the 20 year anniversary of the death of their old classmate. Some of those friends had recently died under mysterious circumstances. Did their friend die of natural causes all those years ago or was he murdered? It was fun to watch Veronica and Stoker dive into this mystery. While I sincerely hope there are more books in the Speedwell series, this could stand as a fitting end if need be.

I’m jumping into the series midway, but Raybourn does an exceptional job orienting new readers within the world, so I know there are more adventures to read but don’t necessarily feel that I missed anything. And to me, that’s always the sign of good writing in a series. Having read Killers of a Certain Age and knowing the series reputation, I went in expecting a good mystery — which I got — but I was also delighted by the strong sense of humor, which is never enough to push us into farce… but is just close enough to the line to keep things quick and fun. Raybourn has a gratifying mastery of first-person narrative, remaining completely in character while poking fun at Veronica in ways the character doesn’t even realize.

A thoroughly good time with something for everyone, from comedy and romance to mystery and thrills! My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the last book Veronica and Stoker parted ways, Veronica to hunt butterfly collections in Italy with Tiberius, Stoker’s brother, and Stoker off to hunt a specimen in Germany. However, a threat to Tiberius and the Seven Sinners, a group of Tiberius’ old friends bring them all back together again to the family estate, Cherboys, in Devon to expose the killer. Years ago while vacationing at Cherboys one of their members fell off a cliff to their death, a tragedy ruled an terrible accident, but now an unknown is claiming he was murdered and that one of them were responsible. So far, two members have died in recent “accidents” and there are three left including Tiberius. Tiberius asked for Veronica and Stoker’s help to unmask the killer before anyone else dies.

There’s no shortage of suspects when Tiberius invites the surviving members for a stay. Veronica and Stoker go about their investigation separately as Stoker is still hurt by Veronica and doesn’t want to just sweep the past events under the rug. I have to say I didn’t blame him. In the past books Veronica has been a little frustrating to me, whereas Stroker gives his all to her, she hold back. It was a little disappointing they weren’t working together for much of the book, but I did enjoy the sleuthing. Veronica has a sharp, humorous mind so I always enjoy her conversations and her mental musings. The writing is very witty.

The descriptions of Cherboys by the cliffs of Devon and the village of Dearsley sounded beautiful and each of the characters assembled were interesting! I kept trying to figure out the culprit right along with Veronica. I was happy with how all things turned out, Veronica finally coming to some personal revelations and the case was wrapped up as well. A Sinister Revenge is book eight in the series and it’s one that needs to read in order. I read an e-copy, but the audios narrated by Angèle Masters are a fantastic way to go too!

3.5 stars on Storm Reads my blog.

Since the very first Veronica Speedwell book I have loved this series, then the author did something with the characters in last years book that I just wasn't a fan of and well the mystery just wasn't really that interesting. It was the first time the series didn't land on my favorite books and so I was hoping that this one would be better and although at the end one of my gripes does get fixed I just didn't care for Veronica in this story.

So because of things that happened in the last book Stoker is off wondering somewhere and Veronica is off traveling around doing her butterfly thing but then is also traveling with Tiberius Stoker's brother. He then tells her that they need to find Stoker because Tiberius thinks someone is out to kill him becuase two of his school friends are dead and if anyone is going to help him figure it out it will be Veronica and Stoker.

Tiberius has a plan to get the killer to out him or herself by having a get together at him home and invite those who are a part of the seven sinners which was something Tiberius was a part of but while everyone is there someone dies and now they have to figure out what happend there and if it has anything to do with the previous murders or not.

Okay so for me Veronica's attitude in this book is to much modern feminist in a historical setting, I don't mind her being an independent woman, and neither does Stoker or he wouldn't go off with her solving these crimes all the time. They are on the outs with each other and she thinks that he should be the one to make things right. She thinks she can just flaunt her feminine wiles and he would fall at her feet (that part cracked me up when he pushes her away and laughed at her). Stoker has been shot, stabbed, striped naked and nearly drowned for that woman, so she can do a little something to show she wants to be with him besides trying to use sex! Also Veronica goes off willy nilly trying to be the one who catches the killer on her own to prove a point and I rolled my eyes.

And just add in that I didn't find the mystery part all that interesting because there wasn't much mystery happening till about 60% when someone finally dies.

Now will I pick up the next book yes, but I no longer am going to go into it thinking I will love it. I just feel like it lost it's funness after book six. This is totally my opinion as a lot of others have really enjoyed this one, just not me.

In this latest book in the Veronica Speedwellseries, Veronica is tasked with yet another murder to solve. Also, this story brings all three Templeton-Vane brothers back together. At the end of the seventh book, An Impossible Imposter, Veronica and Stoker, involved in a contentedly happy relationship, were forced to part ways. As this latest book opens, Veronica and Tiberius, Stoker’s brother, are traveling together in their business pursuits. Tiberius cryptically informs Veronica that Stoker’s presence is urgently needed.

Indeed, Stoker does soon appear, and all of them soon convene at the Templeton-Vane estate for a very special dinner party. The party takes place because Tiberius had received a message that was rather confusing, and also contained obituaries of two members of an old group of friends of his. This message suggested that Tiberius get his affairs in order before his life is lost as well. Between all of them, it is hope that they can identify the killer before any more lives are lost.

This intriguing book had an Agatha Christie vibe. The setting, a dinner party with limited guests, as well as the ongoing drama between Veronica, Stoker and Tiberius, as well as the mystery at hand, all worked together to present an intriguing read.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

How I love returning to a familiar series with much-loved characters!

This 8th installment in the Veronica Speedwell series was quite clever and entertaining as always. Veronica and Stoker accompany his brother, Tiberius, back to the family seat on the Devon coast to flush out a murderer. It seems that Lord Templeton-Vane has received death threats and a number of his friend group called the Seven Sinners have already met untimely ends. Tiberius has decided to invite the remaining survivors to the estate for a reunion and remembrance party. Not all of those invited are accepting with good intentions.

Although Veronica and Stoker have hit a bump in their relationship, they are able to work together as they investigate the members of the house party at Cherboys. Although a bit predictable, I enjoyed as always and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for this e-book ARC. I encourage you to read this series in order from the beginning in order to enjoy it fully. Definitely recommend to any historical mystery lovers.

Still smarting from the revelations of the last book, Stoker has run away to Germany. Or somewhere thereabouts. Veronica decided to let him lick his wounds but has been pulled to find him by Stoker's brother Tiberius who has told her, "I need him."
That astonishing pronouncement is brought on because Tiberius has received a threatening note that references one of Tiberius's from the group that called themselves The Seven Sinners. In the year after they graduated from school, one of the young men died after discovering a massive dinosaur fossil. Two more members died in the intervening years but now two more have passed away in quick succession. Tiberius is worried and would like Stoker and Veronica to attend his house party to see if they can get to the bottom of what is going on.
Of course, there is the usual amount of mayhem and people trying to kill our intrepid heroes. It all makes for a very enjoyable book.

Four stars
This book comes out March 7, 2023
Follows An Impossible Impostor
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

A new Veronica Speedwell and Stoker tale, set in Victorian, England, ALWAYS makes me rejoice. This 8th in the mystery series features the idiosyncratic couple -- she a butterfly hunter, he a natural historian -- who unite to root out a culprit threatening to kill Stoker's brother and members of his Seven Sinners club (two of whom just died.)

This fine mystery can be read solo, but will make you want to go back and devour every intriguing title in the series. I especially love the couple's spirited repartee and quirky relationship ... sometimes on, sometimes off, but always compelling. Another Raybourn winner!

Thanks to author Deanna Raybourn, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

A Sinister Revenge, written by Deanna Raybourn, is the 8th installment in the Veronica Speedwell series, which is delicious and captivating. These historical books have amazing characters and are packed with intrigue, love, and excitement. An intriguing case & danger await you….

Despite romantic troubles, Veronica & Stoker agree to attend his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane dinner party to hunt for a murder. It seems Tiberius has received a message that includes the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends known as the Seven Sinners. Tiberius in fact believes one of them wants to kill him, blaming him and others for their friend’s death.

Oh, how I hated seeing Veronica and Stoker at odds, but it proved humorous watching these two trade barbs, looks and yes, even the occasional kiss. Don’t worry overmuch, the two are simply stubborn.

As for the case, bets were placed, and each was working the case on their own. It seems a vexing reporter lady is also in their midst. The story’s mystery was well done with suspense, murder and a little mayhem. I must admit I was kept guessing, and loved how events clicked into place when all was revealed. Well done, Ms. Raybourn.

I loved seeing the Templeton-Vane brothers together and learning a wee bit more about Stoker’s life. It is always a delight to spend time with these characters and we were treated to some familiar ones. Like a certain pastry chef. My stomach grumbles just thinking about it.

While each novel in the Veronica Speedwell series features its own case/mystery, I recommend reading them in the order of their release. Relationships, characters and the overall story arc enhanced my overall enjoyment of each novel.

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the eighth book in the Veronica Speedwell series, one of my favorite book series to date. However, I was a little worried going into reading this book because the previous novel (An Impossible Imposter) was my least favorite of them all. For me, what makes these books so enjoyable is the dynamic between Veronica and Stoker, and An Impossible Imposter sets them at odds. I’m very happy to report that even though A Sinister Revenge has less banter than I would like, it does have Veronica and Stoker moving back towards reconciliation. I also thought the mystery was satisfying enough, with some unexpected twists and turns in the story. The brawl inside the life-sized dinosaur model was certainly a highlight.

This is the eighth in the Veronica Speedwell series. If, like me, you haven't read the others in the series, you'll be able to follow along the main plot but will miss the backstory that fills in gaps of the interpersonal relationships. Entertaining and a quick read, readers looking for a Victorian-era mystery with a strong female lead will enjoy this book. However, followers of the series may be disappointed at the lack of romance for most of the story.

A new Veronica Speedwell adventure is here, and it’s deliciously complicated and captivating.

Veronica is a dedicated lepidopterist and natural history enthusiast, with a more-or-less accidental sideline in investigating unsavory crimes such as murder, impersonation, and other deadly pursuits. In partnership with her soulmate Stoker, who is perhaps more obsessed with taxidermy than might be advisable, she pursues solutions to complex conspiracies and usually manages to bring wrong-doers to justice — even if her definition of justice doesn’t always match up exactly with the legal system’s definition.

As A Sinister Revenge opens, Veronica is dealing with the fall-out of a MAJOR complication that came to light in the previous book, An Impossible Impostor. The impact on her relationship with Stoker is severe — he’s removed himself from London to engage in fieldwork, and has quite clearly asked Veronica for space. Yes, he still loves her… but is that enough?

When Stoker’s oldest brother Tiberius requests Veronica’s help, they track down Stoker to the forests of Bavaria, where Tiberius pleads for help. He’s received death threats, and needs Veronica and Stoker to figure out who they’re from — and prevent his own and possibly other people’s demise.

The action moves to Tiberius’s country estate, to which he invites close companions from his youth, all of whom may be either potential murder victims… or the murderer. With our power duo on the case, the house party will hopefully end with the discovery of motive, means, and the guilty party, and not with dead bodies to mourn.

As always, Veronica and Stoker are incredibly fun to spend time with. Veronica, as narrator, is full of snark and sass, highly intelligent, and fully insistent on her right to be her own person, and not give in to societal expectations about a woman’s proper place. Because she and Stoker are semi-estranged for much of the book, some of their usual spicy chemistry and high-octane banter are missing, but they still manage to work together, contradict one another, and focus on the case enough to keep the entertainment value high.

The mystery itself is a good one, combining tropes such as a country-house/isolated setting, a guest list where one person is sure to be the murder, and many, many red herrings. There are plenty of clues scattered throughout, but also quite a bit of misdirection and false leads. I was kept guessing throughout the book, and found the unraveling of secrets and eventual big reveal of the whodunit very clever and very, very well done.

I always love seeing Veronica in action, and adore her independence, risk-taking, and sense of adventure. I also love her whole-hearted embrace of the importance of physical love as well as romantic love (or as she puts it: “Physical congress, I have often observed, is as revivifying to the spirt as to the body”.)

The writing in this series is utterly delightful — this book includes such terrific vocab words as “omnificent”, “rampageous”, “rumbustious” “cicerone”, “thaumatrope”, “vellicate”, and more. The dialogue is quick and witty, and the characters are all quite distinct and entertaining.

Eight volumes in, the Veronica Speedwell mysteries remain energetic, clever, and enchanting. In A Sinister Revenge, we get a captivating mystery plot as well as terrific character dynamics. Once again, I read the newest release much too quickly, and now face the long, long wait for another new book!

I’ll end with the same advice I’ve included in my reviews of every book in this series: If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, start with book #1, A Curious Beginning. There’s a very good chance you’ll want to continue!

This series has become one of my favorites. Don’t miss it.

This book is intriguing, mysterious, full of twists and turns, interesting, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "A Sinister Revenge", I was whisked back in time, and went on such a journey with this story.

Deanna Raybourn is such an amazing author! Her writing is vivid and detailed, and she brings her story to life in a way that jumps right off of the page. The various puzzle pieces of the mystery fall into place in exactly the moment they need to to push the plot forward, and this book was so difficult to put down.

I do not want to say too much about the plot of this book due to spoilers, but, I will say, it has so much in it. When Tiberius received a message and threat regarding things from his past that are now brought into the present, he, Veronica, and Stoker must solve what is really going on. With moments that will have you on the edge of your seat and moments that will keep you wanting to read into the early hours of the morning, this book is SO GOOD! Will they be able to figure out how everything is connected? What is really going on? Which direction will Veronica and Stoker's relationship go toward? You will just have to read to find out.

If you enjoy Historical Mysteries, I highly recommend this book! I look forward to reading what Ms. Raybourn writes next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book, and to Berkley Publishing Group for having me as part of the book tour for this novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was great! I have to admit that after I finished the previous book in this series, I was really worried about Veronica and Stoker’s future. I couldn’t wait to see how the author would handle the way things were left between the pair but it turns out that I had no real need to worry. Over the course of the series, I have fallen in love with this group of characters and love seeing the progression of their relationships over the course of the series but I am also very interested in the mystery aspect of the novel which kept me guessing until the very end.

Stoker’s brother, Tiberius, may be in danger. He has received a letter instructing him to get his affairs in order and has learned that two of his friends have recently died. After getting Stoker to return after months away, they work to prepare a party for the remaining members of Tiberius’s group and hope to be able to figure out exactly what is really going on. Stoker and Veronica make such a great team when they are working on a mystery together and I loved the fact that this story was full of twists and turns.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Angèle Masters did a fantastic job with the story. This is the first time that I have listened to any of the books in this series and I was impressed. I really liked the various voices that she used for the cast of characters which really helped to bring the story to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and found myself listening to this book for hours at a time.

I would highly recommend this series to others. I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible since the character relationships grow and change over the course of the series but it could probably work as a stand alone if necessary since the mystery is fully contained in this installment. The whole series is great though so you really don’t want to miss any of the books. I cannot wait to read more of this extremely talented author’s work.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

✨ Review ✨

A big thank you to @berkleypub for this #gifted copy of #ASinisterRevenge !!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica must find and stop a devious killer targeting a group of old friends including Stoker’s brother, Tiberius.

What it has to offer:

🔎 Mystery
🧩 Puzzle
💋 Romance
👯‍♀️ Female Friendship

Quick thoughts:

✨ A slow start/segue into the mystery.
✨ Not a lot of Stoker and Veronica together unfortunately.
✨ The friendship between Veronica and J.J. was fun.
✨ Interesting mystery overall.

A puzzling murder mystery with an interesting cast of characters.

⁉️ Have you read this series yet?

Overall thoughts:

📝 The writing in this story flowed smoothly. It sucked me in from the first page and held my attention throughout. The buildup before the mystery really kicked into gear was a bit slow.

🔎 This was a cozy murder mystery. The cast of characters was small and secluded. I was able to figure out the whodunnit before the end but why they did it was an enlightening reveal.

🧩 Puzzling is a good word for this mystery. There were many pieces to it but they all fit together easily. I was never confused or thinking where did that come from. It was easy to follow along with.

💋 Veronica and Stoker’s relationship has been building up from the first book and I’ve loved (almost) every second of it. This book was no exception; although, for most of the story they are working independently. They still have some cute moments together.

👯‍♀️ The friendship between investigative reporter J.J. and Veronica was fun to watch. Being forced to work together and trust one another really solidified their status as friends.

💜 My favorite part of this mystery was how it was about a group of somewhat reluctant friends coming together to find a murderer. They all care about each other for various reasons but they’d rather not admit it! 😂

📚 This is the 8th book in the Veronica Speedwell Series. I would recommend reading the books in order. That being said, you could probably get away with reading this one on its own. There’s enough background information given that everything will make sense.

If you’re looking for a Victorian mystery series featuring a female investigator look no further, this is the series for you!

A great addition to the beloved Veronica Speedwell series. This time we see Veronica and friends at a house party at the Templeton-Vane ancestral estate investigating murders past and present. It is, as always, a lot of fun, and the perfect mixture of mystery, romance, and action. Deanna Raybourn is a master at weaving in fascinating historical details that make the setting and characters vivid and interesting. There's also some interesting character growth thanks to the tension we were left with between Veronica and Stoker in the last book. If you're a Veronica Speedwell fan, you're certain to enjoy this latest adventure.

I was shocked when I was approved for this ARC. Thank you so much to Berkley for an e-arc!! I also want to thank Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Veronica Speedwell series. I’ve read books 2-8 in the last two months and I have really enjoyed them. Veronica and Stoker are such a fun duo and they are why I keep going. The mysteries and adventures are also a great aspect of the series but in this book, it was a little calmer than normal. I don’t think it was as intense and dangerous as they normally are.

With that being said, I think that the growth with Veronica was done well. She has to face a lot of her past in the previous book, An Impossible Imposter, and it was not easy. She’s not on the best terms with Stoker for most of this book. I think it was smart of Stoker to make her think and face what their relationship means to her.

I loved seeing Tiberius make a comeback in this one! He is such a breath of fresh air and the banter is great. I do think I missed some of the normal banter in the second half of the book. I love that he and Stoker are starting to get along and treat each other like family. These characters have come a long way. It’s really hard to do an in-depth review of the 8th book in a series without spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Veronica and Stoker! This installment was less intense and thrilling than some of her previous books. I loved having Tiberius back and I think Veronica had a lot of important growth. J.J. was also a great addition and I’m glad to see that Veronica might be opening up to others more. I can’t wait for the next adventure! Excelsior!

I have read all the Veronica Speedwell series and love each one. This is the 8th book in the series but can be read as a standalone. The characters travel from book to book solving a new mystery, a new crime, and having a new adventure. There is a little bit of romance, which I like because it just adds to the depth of the characters.



Sinister Revenge is Veronica’s personal journal. It tells of her feelings towards Stoker, the twist that has pushed them apart, and how much she wants to be with him. It shares her thoughts on the mystery of who wants Stoker’s brother, Tiberius, dead and why. I enjoyed reading the story from her point of view.



A Sinister Revenge is a great addition to a wonderful series and I look forward to more.